Improved spring for lanterns



1. A. cowLErs.

Lantern.

Patented May 17, 1864.

MJ KSN UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. COWLES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVED SPRING FOR. LANTERNS.

Specifica-tion forming part of Letters Patent No. 42,75 i', dated May 17, 1864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. GowLEs, of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in the mode of constructin g the metallic portions of kerosenelanterns and ldo hereby declare that the following isafull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification,

in which- Figure 1 is a vertical view of the base, with a portion thereof removed to show the inside; Fig. 2, a horizontal section of the same `just below the globe, and Fig. 3 a vertical section ot' the top of the lantern.

Like letters refer to similar parts in all of the iigures.

.Ihe nature of my invention consists in providing a sI-ring to hold in place the pin passing through a slot for the purpose of a catch in the device, usually known as the bayonetcatch,77 and for the purpose of securely attaching the primary base to the secondary base in lanterns of that construction. I use the term primary base whenreferringto the lower base, or the one containing the oil-cup, and, secondly, when referring to that portion ofthe base which is permanently attached to the bottom ofthe globe.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I construct the lantern top, globe, fenders, base, and oil-cup with its appendages in any of the known forms. The primary base B is made of tin or other suitable material, and provided with a flange, A, in the usual manner. In this base B slots or holes o are cut and descend from the upper edge about threeeighths of an inch, and then turn and are cut horizontally about the same distance. The spring d is attached horizontally, and bent so as to fit the base. It is carried along in that direction past the vertical portion of the slot o, when it is turned down across the horizontal portion of such slot, and a shoulder, e, formed just far enough from the end of the slot to leaveroom for the pin p of the secondary base. After passing below the slot o, the spring is again turned to the original direction and carried the desired distance and turned outward, or a piece attached so that it can be operated by the thumb. On the secondary base a pin, p, is attached, which is fitted to the slot, and whent he two bases are brought together it passes through such slot and out onto the spring. The secondary base is then pressed down and turned so that the pin comes to the end of the slot o, when, having passed the shoulder e, the spring returns to its place, and the two bases are thus securely held together. A similar arrangement ofthe slot and pin is placed on the opposite side, and a spring may also be attached, but I do not consider itof any utility, as one sp1-ing is suiicient. I usually place a guide over the spring near the slot, but this may be dispensed with without material injury.

I do not claim the slot and pin, as this arrangement is old; buty What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

'lhe spring d, provided with the shoulder e, in combination with the slot o and pinp, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and specilied.

JAMES A; COWLES. Witnesses:

DANIEL GOODWIN, Jr., FREDERICK C. GOODWIN. 

